Transmitter



Feb. 9, 1932. v

D. J. STEWART ET Al. 1,844,449

TRANSMITTER u Filed Juiy 3o, 1928 4 Sheets-sheet 2 35 4*' y f' 3g 455ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-SheetA 5 Feb. 9, 1932.

Fb. 9, 1932. D. J. STEWART ET AL 1,844,449

TRANSMITTER A Filed ,July so, 1928 4 Sheets-sheet 4 /6 )a NVENTOR.Duncan` Stewart ATroRNEYs Patented 9, 19732 UNITED STATES DUNCAN J'.SlI'EWABT AND GEORGE FOBBEST BRAKE, OF BOUKFOBD, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO HOWARD D. COLIAN, QF ROCXFOBD', ILLINOIS TRANSMITTERApplication filed JulySO, 1928. Serial Ne. 296,300.

The invention relates to a device for transmitting a predeterminedsignal comblnatlon for the purpose of controlling a desired mechanism orinstrumentality at a more or less remanipulated in such a way as tointerfere with the signal cycle, or render the device inoperative.` 4

A morespecic object is to rovide an actuatingmeans for the transmitterincluding a drivlng sprin with manually operable winding means orautomatically placing a predetermined maximum tension on -the springpreliminary to eachsignal sending c c e.

yA further object is to provide a sprin windin f means foraspring-actuated signa transmltter, which is inoperative during thesignal sending cycle.

'Another object is to provide a trip mechanism for initiating eachsignal c cle of a signal'transmitter and automatica ly terminating thesame `with the driving spring 11nder a predetermined initial tension, incombination with a spring winding means adapted to actuate the trimechanism so as to initiate the cycleonly a erlthe spring has been tenysioned to a predeterminedmaximum.

' Still another object is'to provide a si al sending'device vof thecharacter referre to which is simple in construction, durable andcertain in operation.

The objects of the invention thus set (forth, together with other andancillary advan- .tages are attained by the construction and arrangementillustrated inthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof andhereinafter described. While only. one embodiment of the invention isset forth, it is contemplated that various 'changes in the constructionand arrangement employed may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the Yspirit and scope ofthe invention as expressed in theappended claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a sideelevational view of a senderconstructed in accordance with our Ainvention'an'd having an env closingcasing shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device, the' cas-` inghere too being shownin section.

ig. 3 is a rear side elevation of the device with a part broken away toshow a detail of construction. Fig. 4 is an underside plan ing a partbroken away to show a structural detail.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale takenapproximately in the .plane of line 5-5 of Fig.` 3.

view also hav- Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentarysectional Jviews illustratinan escapement mechanism for controlling tie rotative speed of the'devicewith means associated therewith for controlling the starting and stoppinof the devic at the beginning and end o the signal cyc e. v

Fig; 9 ,is a fragmentary transverse lsectional view -taken approximatelyin the plane 'of line 9-9 of Fig. 1, buton a lar er scale.

Fig. -10 is a fragmentary vertica sectional view showing a part of thespring winding means and a part of the trip mechanism actuated by saidmeans to initiate the signal cycle, the parts being shown in theirnormal or ini'- tial position.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line11-11 of Fig. 10. y l

Fig. 12 is'a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the relation of theparts after the initiation off' a signal cycle, with the springwindlngmeans ineffective during that cycle.

Fig. 13v is a section view-taken approxifmatelyin the plane of line13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14.- is afragmentary Perspective view showing the construction othe escapement pallet with which the-toothed escapement the drawings isparticularly adapted for use in combination-with the selective receivingapparatus disclosed in Patent No. 1,760,379,

issued on May 27, 1930, to Duncan J. Stewart. Accordingly the inventionwill be described as a means for transmitting radiant energy fields ina'preconcerted codal combination, from a motor vehicle or the like, forthe purpose of controlling, through the medium of such a receivingapparatus, the operation of a garage door or other selectedinstrumentalit ylfn the form herein illustrated, the transmittingmechanism comprises two disks 16 and 16 (Figs. 2-and 15) fixed upon arotatable shaft 17 and operating to close two sets of switch contacts 18and 18 respectively. The switch contacts 18 are interposed in a circuitincludinc' a battery 19 (which ma be the storage battery of a motorvehicle) and the primary 2O of an inductioncoil 21, the later having theusual vibrator 22. A spark gap 23 is interposed in parallel with thesecondary 24 of the coil 21, this latter circuit being in series with aclosed or loop antenna 25 and a condenser 26 forming an oscillatorycircuit- Theloop antenna may be suitably mounted beneath the motor vehicle. rlhe contacts constituting the switch 18 are interposed in ashunt circuit including a part of the lighting circuit of the motorvehicle such, for example, as the tail light circuit, the latter havingtherein the usual hand operated switch 27.

The disks 16 and 16 constitute rotary sending elements, and areconstructed to provide peripheral depressions 28 and elevations 29.These elevations and depressions determine the spacing of the units ofthe codal signal, the movable contacts of the switches beingrespectively equipped with followers 30, 30 adapted to engage with theperipheries of the disks 16, 16 respectively so as to open 'the switchcontacts when an elevation is encountered. lt will be apparent that ineach revolution ci the disk, the two sets of switch contacts areoperated, the former operating intermittently at predetermined intervalsand the later once in each cycle but at a predetermined point therein.The operation of the switch contacts 13', however, is eiiiective toenergize the induction coil 21 only when the hand operated switch 27controlling the light circuit is closed.

The disks 16, 16 are arranged to be rotated, by power applied to theshaft 1, through one complete revolution for each signal cycle. Saidshaft (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 9) is journaled at its opposite ends in theside plates 31 and 32 of a U-shaped :trame including also a iront plate33. The plate 32 as shown clearly in Fig. 4 is separately Jformed forpurposes o assembling and disassembling the parte, the side and irontplates 31 and 33 being :termed in a Ushaped member having a leg 34 (Fig.4) opposite the side plate 31 to which the plate 32 is removably securedby means 4of bolts 35. As shown in Fig. 9, the disks 16 and 16 aresecured near one end of the shaft 17 within the frame, mounted upon asleeve 36 having a hub portion 37 inned to the shaft, the disks beingclampe on the sleeve by means of a nut 38 with a spacing collar 39therebetween.

In the present embodiment the means for driving the shaft, and hence thedisks 16, 16, comprises a spirally coiled spring 40 (Fig. 9) which isadapted to be tensioned preliminary to each operating cycle through aone-way connection with a suitable hand o erator. The inner end of thespring is anc ored to the hub 41 of a ratchet wheel 42, and the otherend of the spring is anchored to the peripheral wall of a hollow drum 43formed integral with the hub 37 of the sleeve 36 which carries thesending disks 16 and 16. Loose on the shaft 17 is a spur pinion 44 havinrigidly vsecured thereto a disk 45 forme with a single ratchet tooth 46(Figs. 10 to 13) which is adapted to engage a shoulder formed by oneedge of a slot 47 in the ratchet disk 4. A coiled `expansion spring 48acts upon the pinion 44 to press the disk 45 yieldably toward theratchet wheel 42. ln the normal relation of the parts, that is when thetransmitter is idle, the tooth 46 is adapted to enter the slot 47 (Figs.10 and 11), and it will be seen therefore that when the pinion 44 isrotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10 the ratchet wheel42 will be rotated, and with it the inner end of the spring 40 to placethe same under tension, the drum 43 being meanwhile held stationary bymeans to be later described.

rlhe hand operator for rotating the pinion comprises, in the preferredembodiment, a rack bar 43El (Figs. 4, 5 and 10) slidably mounted forreciprocation in the irainc and having at its forward end a knob orbutton 49. For guiding` the rack bar the front plate 33 ci the frame hasa slot 50 (Fig. 12), and a stationary plate 5l rearwardly oit Athetraine has a similar slot 52. Said plate is bolted to a transverselydisposed flange 53 (Fig. 2) at the rear end oi an intermediate trainemember or plate spaced laterally :troni the side plate and having at its'forward end a flange 55 suitably secured to the front plate 33 of thetraine as by spotwelding. 'lhe spring 43 which yieldably urges thetoothed disk 45 against 'the ratchet wheel 42, bears against this frameplate 54 'through the medium of a washer 56, the plate 54 being slottedas at 57 to permit the shaft 17 to pass therethrough.

Conc-ting with the ratchet Wheel 42 is a detent pawl 58 (Fig. 5) forpreventing reverse rotation thereof, said dctcnt pawl being in the formof a leaf spring suitably secured to the front plate .33 of the frame asby spotwelding. By this construction a forward pull on the rack bar 48operates through the pinion 44, toothed dif-:1k 45 and llt) ratchetwheel 42, which serves to place the sprin under tension. As herein`shown the diameter of the pinion is such that in one complete revolutionthereof the driving spring is placed under the desired maximum tensionlpreliminary tothe initiation of the signal cycle. l

The 'means for initiating and terminatin the signal cycle is operativelyassociated Wit` an escapement mechanism provided for the pur ose ofcontrolling the speed of rotation of t e signal control disks 16 and 16.This escapement mechanism is of a construction which is, ,in allsubstantial respects, similar to that set forth and claimed in thecepending application of Howard D. Colman, Serial No. 175,377, filedMarch 14, 1927. Briefly it comprises a toothed escapement wheel 59(Figs. 6 to 8) fast on the shaft 17 and an oscillatory pallet 60operatively associated with a balance wheel 61 controlled by a coiledbalance spring 62. Herein the pallet is rigid with a disk 63formedintegral with a pin 64 which is journaled at opposite ends in theside plate 32 and the intermediate frame plate 54.

The pallet'has a pair of arcuate dogs 65 and 66 adapted to engagealternately with the teeth of the escapement wheel to eiect a rapidstep-by-step movement of the shaft 17 during each signalling cycle.Rigid with respect to the pallet are a pair of spaced iingers 67straddling the hub of the escapement wheel so as to serve as stopslimiting the swing of the pallet in either direction. An

` I arm 68 extends upwardly from the pallet and is forked at its end toreceive a pin 69 on the balance wheel 61. Herein said wheelis rigid witha pin 7 0 journaled at one end in the up-` per end of the side late 32and at the other end in a frame mem er 71 integral with and turnedrearwardly from the front plate 33. One end of the balance spring isanchored to the wheel 61 and the other end to an arm 72. formed integralwith the front plate 33 (Fig. 1) and extending upwardly and rearwardly.

' Means is provided-for varying the period of oscillation of the balancewheel 61 and thus regulating the speed jof'the shaft 17 this meanscons1sting of a segmental plate 73 (Fig. 5) pivoted on the axis 'of thebalance Wheel 61 and ada ted to beclamped against the -member v71 y ascrew 74 extending throu h an elongated arcuate slot 75 in the plate 3.The latter has an arm 76 slotted :if at 77 to receive snugly theoutenloop of the balance spring 62 so'pthat the effective length of thespring will be determined by the angular position of said arm.

The esca ement mechanism operates to effect a stepy-step movement-of theshaft 17 and hence of the sending disksl6, 16', and the teeth of thelatter are coordinated with the step-by-step motion to eiect an'accurate transmitted during each revolution of thedisks. 'Thus thearrangement is such that the switch contacts are. closed to initiate thetransmission of an impulse upon one advancing movement of the escapementwheel, and are opened to terminate the impulse upon a subsequentadvancin movement. For a further descriptionl of t is feature of thedevice, reference is made to the said copending application of Howard D.Colman Serial No. 175,377.

The means associated with the escapement mechanism for initiating andterminating each operating cycle comprises a control dis 78 (Figs. 6 to8) loose on the shaft 17 and having a pin-and-slot connection with theescapement wheel 59. This pin-and-slotk arm in a direction opposite thedirection of rotation of the shaft 17, as permitted by enlarged holesthrough which the studs pass (Fig. 7). Integral with the control disk 78is an arm 81 which is arranged to coact with the pallet dog 66 soas tomaintain the other dog 65 in holding engagement with a tooth of theescapement wheel, thereby preventing rotation of the escapement wheel bythe spring. The disk 78 also carries a depending lug 82 offset from theplane of the disk (Fig. 9), and, in the initial or stopped position ofthe mechanism, enga ing in a notch 83l (Fig. 4) in a reciprocable tripmember 84. It will be seen that with the parts in the position showninFig. 6, movement of the trip member 84 to the left operates to move thedisk 78 independently vof the escapement wheel and disengage the arm 81from the pal- '4 The trip member 84 is a partof a 'trip mechanismarranged to be actuated to re-` -lease -the escapement mechanism.` This:mechanism fis operable onlyat the end of the spring winding' operation,in order vto insure that theA driving spring shall be placed under l itspredetermined maximum tension `prelim. m'aryzto eachoperatingcycle. Tothis end the trip member 84' is secured tof a bar 85, the-.opposite`ends of which are respectively slidable inthe front plate 33 'and therear l plate 51. On said bar are. a pair of upstand` ing lugs 86 and 87disposed in thepath ofinovement of a pin 88'projecting laterally fromtherack bar 48?. This pin is so positioned on the rack bar thatv at theend of the forward movement thereof, that is to say,

at. the en dof the spring winding operation,

titi

the pin engages with the forward lng 86 thus drawing the latterforwardly and with it the trip member 84: to swing the control disk 78and thus release the escapement mechanism.

In the forward movement of the rack bar 48, a spring 89 is placed undertension so that it tends to return the rack bar to its initial positionwhen the bar is released by the operator. Said spring 89, as best shownin Fig. 5, isanchored at one end to the lower end of the front plate 33and at its other end t'o the pin 88 on the rack bar. In the rearwardmovement of the bar by the spring, thevpin 88 engages with the rearwardlug 87 onthe bar 85 and thus tends to restore the bar 85 and its tripmember 84 to initial position in which event the winding mechanism wouldbe rendered operable. In order, however, to prevent the operator fromrewinding the spring until after the signal has been transmitted, thatis, when the escapement wheel has completed one revolution, means isprovided to latch the bar 85 in its foremost position, automaticallyreleasing the same for movement to its normal rearward position at theend of the cycle. ln this connection it will be observed (compare Figs.11 and 13) that the single tooth ratchet mechanism is ineffective towind the spring until the ratchet disk i5 has rotated reversely throughone complete revolution after having rotated the ratchet disk 42 throughone revolution.

Said means for latchinpr the trip bar 85 forwardly comprises the tripmember 84 and a stationary latch keeper 90. ln order that the tripmember may fun/:tion as a latch it is made of spring steel, with itsrear end yieldably held raised from the ,bar 85 to thelimit of a stopflange 91 (liig. 9) formed integral with the trip membe and adapted toengage the under side of the bar. rl`he keeper 90 is formed integralwith the intermediate frame plate 541-., being' so positioned that whenthe bar 85 is moved forwardly at the end of the springr winding,Aoperation, the yieldahle trip member moves into engagement with 'thekeeper 90 thereby holding the lug 87 forwardly as shown in Figi". 7.Accordingly when the rack bar .ll-8 is released by the operator to theaction ot the spring 89, the pin 88 engages with the lunl 87 (Fig. 13)in which position the tooth liti of the ratchet disk i5 has not movedfar enoughA to enter the notch 17 in the ratchet wheel. As a result, thebar 48 in its forward movement is inoperative to place tension upon thespring.

To render the spring; winding means operable after a full revolution ofthe escapemcnt mechanism and hence of the sendingI disks 1G and 18', thetrip member 84 is disengaged from its keeper 90 by means acting at theend of the operating,ir cycle. This means includes the offset lug 8:2 onthe control disk 78, the lug being constructed so as to engage with thetrip member rearwardly of the notch 83 therein, camming the trip memberdown- -wardly out of engagement with the keeper lug 90 and thuspermitting the bar 85 to move rearwardly under the action of the spring89, acting through the rack bar and pin 88. Thus the parts areautomatically restored to the osition shown in Figs. 6, 10 and 11, incon ition for the next operatin cycle.

Referring now to Fig. 14, t e escapement mechanism is constructed as setforth in said Colman application Serial No. 175,377, so as to permit thedriving spring 40 to start the shaft 17 moving from a normal restposition, and thus overcome the inherent tendency of an escapementmechanism of this type to remain at rest after it has been stopped. Theconstruction referred to comprises a tooth 92 of the eseapement wheeland an inclined sur face 93 on the escapement dog 65, the tooth 92 beingalways in engagement with the pallet dog when the stop arm 81 engageswith the dog 66 (Fig. 6). As clearly shown in Fig. 14, the tooth 92 ismade substantially narrower than the remaining teeth of the escapementwheel and is adapted to engage with the inclined surface 93 which is ofcorre sponding width, while all of the other teeth will engage witharcuate surfaces 94 of the pallet dogs. 'lhus in the stopped position ofthe escapement mechanism the tooth 99. is forced against the surface 93by the action of the driving springl l0, the line of action of the forceapplied to the pallet through the medium of the tooth 92 beingneccentrically of the pallet axis and. therefore such as to oscillate thepallet. ln this connection it will be understood that this force isexerted hy the driving spring Al() which is under a predeterminedminimum tension when the escape .lili-.Ti ment wheel is stopped at. theend ci a sig.. cycle.

The two sets of switch contacts 18 and 1'*` respectively controlled bythe disks 1li 16, are disposed rearwardly in the fr shown in liigg. 5.The :movable cor the set 18 is carried by v 'i spring arm 95 carryinp)nl having its 'upper end secured hlock 9G of insulation mate to the upperend the side The stationary contact is carri tively rigid arm 97, thelower i lshapcd in form shown el Similarly the stationary andL in. tactsof the set 18 are ref-:pecti a spring' arm 98 the relativ arm 97. Theseveral contacts with suitable terminals 100..

'lit' desired the transmitter may he eiwio1i--ul within a suitablecasini` comprising u :nain section. 101 1 and ff, 10.2, the two partsheilig,- to receive project f porti` rack har 418g and 'f 5 board beingprovided with the usual inturned t' ange 104 at its lower edge. A clampis secured to the front wall 33 ofthe framevwhich is, adapted -to enage-with said flan 104. Said clamp may of any preferre character, thatherein shown comprising two angular members 105 and 106, the verticallegs of which are securedto Vthe front platev 33 of the franietby meansofabolt` 107 and the horizontal le s of which are spaced part verticallyto receive the horizontal flange of the instrument board. The member 106has two horizontal legs spaced part and eachprovided with a set screw108.

The operation When the operator of the vehicle desires to send a' codalsignal, he grasps the' forward end of. the rack bar 48a and draws thesame to-` ward him until the lug 86 on the trip bar 85 is moved by thepin 88 into engagement with the front plate 33 (Fig. 7). vIn suchmovement of the rack bar,tlie pinion 44 is rotated and through thesingle tooth ratchet device the spring 40 is wound, reverse rotation ofthe ratchet wheel 42 being prevented by the' detent pawl 58. The escaement mechanism, however, is not releasedv or operation until near theend of the forward movement of the rack bar when the bar 85 is operatedand,

through the tripv member 84,` the control disk 78 and arm 81, movedffrom the position ishown in, Fig. 6 to that shown-in Fig. 7. In 'thistripping operation, the trip member 84 sna s into enga ement with thekeeper 90 an thus holds t e tripbar 85 with its lug 87 in position tostop the full return movement of the rack bar by the spring 89. Thetooth 46 of the ratchet disk 45 is thus prevented fromentering the notch47 in the ratchet wheel 42, the parts assuming the relation shown inFig.' 13. Near the end of` the cycle the lug 82, rotating withtheescapement wheel, cams the trip member 84 downwardly out ofengagement .with its keeper 90, thus permitting the' trip vmember toImove rearwardly beneath the keeper by the action of the return sprin 89for the rack bar and associated parts. vsuch movement of the trimember', the notch 83 therein becomes positioned to receive the lug 82,vwhilethe arm- 81 moves into engagement with the pallet dog 66 to .holdthe pallet against oscillation an thus terminate the cycle.

It will be seen that mu'stbe placed upon 'the driving spring preliminary to each operatingl cycle. -If the operator releases the rackbar before having thus completely woundjthe spring,'it will' merelyreturn under 'the'action of its spring 21 the other end o said Yythearrangement prof vided, a predetermined maximuml tension 89 to itsinitial position, but the ratchet wheel 42 having been given a partialrotation, the ratchet tooth 46 will be ineffective in a secondplperation of the rack bar, except to pick up e ratchet wheel in theposition to which it has been advanced. y

Also, it will be 4observed that after the escapement mechanism has beenreleased at the its extreme forward position during 'the entireoperating cycle, e mechanism will stop in the normal way except that thetrip bar 85 will be held forwardly by the pin, 88. y The trip member 84lin that event will be held down by the trip lug 82, the member being'released for upward movement into operative relation to the trip lugAonly after the member has been restored to .its initial osition l()F1g`.6) by the complete return of t e rack 'Ilhus we have provided akmanually operi able transmitter of a character such as to insure properoperation and to prevent the operator, by improper manipulation, fromin- )uring or otherwise rendering the device inoperative.

We claim as our invention: v 1. 4 A signal transmitter comprising, incombination, a sending device, a driving s ring for said device, anoperator having a ngageable connection with said spring engage- :able toinitiate the winding of the spring only in the initial position of theoperator, means operable automatically -to stop the sending device atthe end of a`predetermined cycle and releasably holding the same againstmovement, a member arranged to be moved by said operator and having aspring latch,

a keeper with which said latch is engaged' in such-movement, said memberbeing operable when in its latched positiontoprevent the return of the'operator :to its initial position, and means operable by said stopmeans to disengage the latch from the keeper at the end Y of theoperating cycle.

2. A signal transmitter comprising, in com bination,'a rotary sendindevice, means for driving said device including a torsion spring havingone end connected with the sending device, a rotatabl mounted disk withwhic means constantly operative to prevent rotaztion of said disk inadirection to unwind'the of the disk'relativeto said-winding element, aVdevice, for rotati said element in a direction to tension'saispring,means operable 13 vring is connected,

. having a one-way connection wlth said sectance to disengage said bysaid device to initiate rotation of the sending device, and meansoperating to prevent return of said winding element to its initialposition during the sendingl cycle, said sending device havingr meansrotating therewith and operable at the end of a signal cycle to permitreturn of the rotary winding element to its initial position whereby toeii'ect its re-en agement with said disk.

3. signal transmitter comprising, in combination, a rotary sendingdevice, means for driving said device including a torsion spring. havingone end connected with the sending device, a rotatably mounted diskconnected to the other end of said spring, means normally holding saidsending device against rotation, means constantly operative to preventrotation of said disk in a direction to unwind the spring,spring-winding means including a rotary element having a single toothedratchet connection with said disk, a device for rotating said element ina direction to tension said spring, means operatingupon the rotationotthe element through a piredetermined disolding means for the sendingdevice, and means operating to prevent return of said rotary windingelement to its initial position during the sending cycle, said sendingdevice having means rotating therewith and operable at the end of asignal cycle to permit return of the rotary wlnding .element to itsinitial position whereby to effect re-engagement of said single toothedratchet drive.

4. A signal transmitter comprising, in combination, a shaft having asending evice operatively associated therewith, a member lixed to saidshaft, a second member loose on the shaft, a coiled spring connectinsaid members, a pinion also loose on the sha and ond member, a rack barmeshing with said pinion and operable to rotate said second memberwhereby to tension said spr1ng, a

4ratchet device constantly preventing reverse rotation of said secondmember, releasable means o erating to` hold said shaft against rotationuring the spring winding operatlon, a slide having a lost motionconnection wlth said rack bar and operable at a predetermined point inthe movement of the latter` to release said holding means, meanscoacti'ng with said slideto prevent return movement of said rack bar toits initial ositlon, and means operating. at the end o a predeterminedrotation of the shaft to render said rack bar holding means ineffective,said oneway connection between the pinion and said second member beingeffective only in the initial position of the rack bar.

5. A signal transmitter of the character set forth having a sendingdevice, av spring for driving the same, means for normally holding thesending device. against rotation by the spring including a stop memberromagma tatable in the operation o the sending device, and means forWinding said spring and actuating said stop member to release thesending device comprising a rotary element having a one-Way ratchetconnection with said spring, a manual operator for rotating saidelement, a slide operatively associated with said operator and operableat a predetermined point in the movement of the latter to actuate saidstop member whereby to release the sending device, said slide having alatch member, a keeper for said latch meinber positioned so as to beengaged 'thereby as an incident to the release of the sending device andoperative to prevent return movement of the slide to its initialposition, and means operable at the end ot a signal cycle to disengagesaid latch member from its keeper.

6. A signal transmitter comprising, in combination, a sending device,means for driving said device including a spring, means for tensioningsaid spring including a disk rotatable in one direction only relative tothe shaft and operatively connected with the spring, a pinion having aione-Way driving connection with the disk, a rack bar meshing with saidpinion to rotate it to place a predetermined degree of tension on saidspring, means including ya releasable stop operating to hold the sendingdevice against rotation during the winding of said spring, a slidehaving a lost motion connection with said rack bar and having anoperative connection with said stop member whereby When the rack bar ismoved through a predetermined distance the stop member is operated torelease the sending device, and means coacting with said slide tol holdthe rack bar from being returned to its initial position, said stopmember having a part operating to render the last mentioned holdingmeans ineiective upon the completion of a predetermined cycle ofoperation of the sending device, and said one-way connection betweensaid pinion and disk being eeetive only in the inltial relation of thedisk and pinion.

7. A signal transmitter of the character set forth having a sendingdevice, a spring for driving said device, means normally operative tohold the sending device against rotation by the spring including a stopmember rotatable in the operation of the sending device, and means forwindin said spring and actuating said stop mem er to release the sendingdevice comprising a pinion having a one-way ratchet connection with saidspring, a reclprocator bar having a gearing connection with said pinion,a slide having a lost motion connection with said bar and operable at apredetermined point in the movement of the latter to actuate said stopmember whereby to release the sending device, said slide having ayieldable latch plate and said stop member' having a part normallyengaging with said plate for moveually operablebar mounted forreciprocation, a .slide mounted vfor movement parallel to. said bar andhaving a lost motion connection therewith, a latch plate yieldablymounted onsaid side, a stationary notched- `keeper with which said plate-is adapted to engage at the end of the spring winding operation, andmeans operable at the end of the rotation of sa'idsendingdevice todisengage said plate from its keeper, said reciprocatory bar having anoperative connection with said spring effective only upon the return ofsaid slide to its initial position, and

, said slide being operable inthe engaged relation of the latched plate'relativeto its keeper to prevent such return of thebar to initialposition.

9. In a signal transmitter having afrotary sending device, a spring foractuating said device, and' means releasably holding the sending devicevagainst rotation by said spring; means for winding said spring andcontrolling the release of the sending device for rotation through apredetermined cycle comprising a manually operable member and a slidemovable by said member and having a yieldable latch member normallyconnected with said holding means and operable to release the lattertoinitiate the signal cycle, a `notched keeper engageable by the latchmember upon the release of said holding means, and a part rotating withthe sending device and operable at the endof the signal cycle todisengage said latch from its keeper.

n 10. A signal transmitter comprising, in combination, a rotary sendingdevice, a driving spring for said device, means for initiat- 4 mg andlterminating a signal cycle inclndin a stop member mounted for rotationwit and for limitedrotation relative to the sending device, manuallyoperable means including an operatorhaving a lost motion connection withsaid stopmeinberand operable to place apredetermined tension upon saidspring, said operatorl being adapted through f said lost motionvconnection .to move said stop member near the end of the spring windingcycle whereby to initiate a signal cycle, said .Y operator furtherhaving a disengageableconnection with fsaid s" ring operative to eiectthe lconnection t'oinitiate the winding of the spring only the initialposition of tlie operator, and means preventing Atlie refstnration4 vment whereby to tension said spring, means operable near the end of suchrange. of movement of the operator to initiate a signal sending cycle,and, escapeineiit mechanism comprising an escape wheel rigid on theshaft of said-sendin device'and apallet cooperating with sai escapew'heel to' control said sending device, said cycle initiating meansincludingla disc mounted on the axis of said escape w eel forslight-relative rotation and having an arm for engagement with saidpallet to arrest motion of said sending device upon completion-ofthejsending opera-A tion. i

12. A signal transmitter comprising, in combination, a signalsendingdevice, driving means therefor including a spring, anl operatorhaving a predetermined range of movement whereby to tension, saidspring, said operator beinglcapable of engagement for a windingoperation only in the initial position thereof, latch means forpreventing return of said operator to initial position, holding meansassociated with said sendin device and operating independently of saioperator, said holding means having an arresting part positioned'to stopthe sending device at the completion of the sendin operation andreleasable at the end o the Winding operation to initiate a signalcycle, and a second part positioned to release said latch meanssubstantially simultaneously with the arrest of said sending operation,and a connection between the operator and said arresting part includinglsaid second part o erable to release the arresting part.

13. i signal transmitter comprising, in combination, a signal sendingdevice, driving means therefor including a-spring, an operator having apredetermined range of move` ment whereby Y to tension said spring, saidoperator being capable of engagement for .a winding operation only inthe initial position thereof, an escapement'mechan'ism for controllingthe operation of said s eiiding de-l vice comprising an escape wheelrigid on the 'shaft ofl the sending device and a pallet,v

a disc mounted on said escape wheel for slight relative movement andbeing v ieldably urged in a counter-rotating direction, said discvhaving an arm positionedtdengage the palletto arrest the sendingoperation atvtlie vcompletion thereof and to hold'the sending deviceinoperative during the ,winding operation, aitrip member having alost-motion connection with said operator and engaging the disc in theholdingposition thereofto `release'tliel sending device upon completion8 retiene@ of the winding operation, and a keeger positioned 'in thereturn path of the trip member to prevent return of the operator toinitial position during 'the sending operation, said disc being in turnoperable near the end of the signal cycle to disengage the trip memberfrom the keeper.

14. A signal transmitter comprising, in combination, asending device, aspring for 10 driving said device having one end operatively connectedthereto, means for tensionl ing said spring including a driven disc confA nected to the other end of said spring, a. pinl ion having a, secondor driving disc secured thereto, said discs being coaxially arranged andone of them havin a single tooth projecting fromthe face t ereo and theother havin a shoulder to be engaged by said tooth 1n the normalrelation or" the disks, a rack bar meshing with said-pinion to rotate'it, spring means urging said discs into engagement, means operable tohold the driven disc against reverse rotation, and means op* erableafter the tensioning stroke of said rack bar to hold said driving discout of normal relation until completion of the sending operation.

ln testimony whereof We have hereunto aiiixed our signatures. DUNCAN J.STEWART.

GEORGE FURREST DRAME.

